Levelling up Secretary says talks continue on Scunthorpe steelworks -as he visits the town
Unions fear up to 2000 jobs could go in the move to new blast furnaces
Levelling up Secretary Michael Gove has been to Scunthorpe and says the Government's working hard to ensure the future of the steelworks there despite concerns up to 2 thousand jobs could go at the site.
British steel plans to close Scunthorpe's blast furnaces and replace them with an electric furnace to produce 'green steel.'
Unions have called for assurances that jobs will be protected, fearing the impact that could have on the community.
Michael Gove says talks between British Steel and the Government continue as they try and ensure a bright future for the operation.
We're doing everything we can in negotiations with British Steel to safeguard jobs
We spoke to him during his visit to Scunthorpe yesterday.
Mr Gove said: "We're doing everything we can in negotiations with British Steel to safeguard jobs in Scunthorpe."
"The future of steel in the UK and across Europe will be in moving towards decarbonisation of steel production."
"These are decisions ultimately for British Steel but we want to make sure that we are their partners in continuing to see investment in Scunthorpe."
"Scunthorpe's heritage is built on steel but we want its future to be about steel and high value manufacturing as well."
"That's why Kemi Badenoch and her team have been working hard to ensure we can secure the private sector investment we need for the future."
We're also committed to making sure Scunthorpe can have a resilient economy in other ways as well
"Scunthorpe is an amazingly resilient place - it's got talented people and has great potential for the future."
"We're absolutely committed to doing everything we can to ensure there's steelmaking here in the future."
"We're also committed to making sure Scunthorpe can have a resilient economy in other ways as well".
"That's why the 17 million pounds we've spent on the regeneration of the town centre is so important because Scunthorpe - North and North East Lincolnshire - are absolutely vital to our industrial future."
"We are making sure there's additional investment in transport, urban regeneration, in housing and helping to attract the high quality businesses that will contribute to the ongoing renaissance of this part of England."